Ballot-box.



No. 674,404. v Patented May 2|, IQUI.

c. 5-. GIERDING.

BALLOT I BOX.

(Application filed Dec. 2, 1899.) (No Model.) 4 Shets$heet l.

Inventor.

1m: mums PETERS co. mmumo" WASHINGTON u c No. 674.404. Patehted May 2|,19m.

DYE. GIERDING.

BALLOT BOX.

(Application filed Dec. 2, 1899.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets$heet 2.

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Witnesses. n ntor.

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No. 674,404. Patented May 2|, l90l. c. E. mannma.

B A L L0 T B 0 X.

(Application filad Dec. 2, 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.

Inventor.

Witnesses.

Attorney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. GIERDING, OF WEST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE NEWHAVEN CAR REGISTER COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

BALLOT-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,404, dated May 21,1901.

Application filed December 2, 1899'. Serial No- 738y956. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern; I

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. GIERDING,

a citizen of the United States,residing at West Haven, in the county ofNew Haven and State of Connecticut,have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Ballot Boxes, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in ballot-boxes of that class whichmark each ballot inserted and which automatically count and register thesame.

The invention is designed to be attached to a ballot-box in which astationary ballot-chute is used as distinguished from a ballot-boxhaving a sliding ballotdrawer. Some of the mechanisms, however, are asequally applicable to a drawer ballot-box as to a chute-box. In theballot-box about to be described a ballot is placed in the ballot-chuteand the boxtender releases a crank-handle from a stoplug upon the sideof the ballot-box and rotates the same, which rotation operates all ofthe mechanisms-that is, closes the ballotchute, so that another ballotcannot'be inserted, draws in the ballot, cancels the ballot by printinga series of characters thereon, counts the ballots by a suitableregistering device, ringsa bell or operates an audible alarm, and when acomplete revolution of the crank-handle has been made the stop-lug,above referred to, prevents the further rotation of the crank-handleuntil the same has been released.

If a ballot is not presented to the above mechanisms through the chute,the printing, registering, and alarm mechanisms will not be actuated,and the mere rotation of the crank-handle has no efiect upon the same.

It is one object of my invention, among other things,to provide aballot-box with functions substantially as outlined that will beabsolutely automatic and of few parts and those of such design andstructure that they can be constructed at a small cost and readilyassembled and when assembled not liable to be disarrangedfor thrown outof order.

It is a further object of my invention to attach to the registeringmechanism means for eating-wheels may be returned to zero quickly andwith few movements.

To these ends my invention consists of the ballot-box having certaindetails of construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafterdescribed, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals designate like partsin the several views, Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of oneform of a ballot-box embodying resetting the same, whereby all of theindimy improved mechanism, a portion of the side being broken away andthe side frames of the interior mechanism removed, but outlined indotted lines, and the bottom door, used for removing the ballots, swungpartly open. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the operating mechanisms removedfrom the box, the indicating-train and a part of its shaft being takenout. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the same from'the rear end; Fig. 4, atransverse section of the same upon line A B of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is asectional viewof one of the registeringwheels. Fig. 6 is a detailed viewof one of 5 the registering-wheel gears and the notched disk which isattached thereto. Fig. 7 is a detailed view of the bell-crank, formingpart of the locking mechanism between a registering-Wheel and itsoperating-gear. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of the handle end of thecrank-handle, the stop-lug, and a portion of the side of the box, thebroken lines illustrating the position of the handle when the same isbeing released from the stop-shoulder and ready to receive another turn.Fig. 9 is a detailed view of the stop-lug. Fig. 10 is a view of theregistering wheel shaft and resetting-knob, with a fragmentary view of aportion of one of the side frames, showing the relative positions of theseveral parts; and Fig. 11 is a detailed view of the operatingcam.

The mechanism is supported upon braces 2 within a box 1, which performsthe dou- 5 ble function of being a case to inclose the apparatus and asuitable receptacle for the reception of the ballots, in which they areretained until removed by opening the door 3 at the bottom of the box.In the draw- [co ings this door is shown as being partly open. A doublecover is provided for the box, the apparatus-cover 4 being hinged to thebox 1 at 5 and having a front side 6, in which is secured a glass plate7, through which the indicating-wheels are displayed, and thechute-cover 8 being hinged to the apparatus-cover 4 at 9, which cover isopen, as shown in Fig. 1, whenv balloting. After the balloting hasceased, the chute-cover Sis closed to the position shown by the brokenlines in Fig. 1, when the box can be transported from place to placewithout'fear of injury to any of the parts, all of the mechanism beingcontained therein and free from'injury.

' Any suitable locking devices may be used to securely lock the coversand the bottom door, none of which are shown, they not being ma terialto myinvention. I

The numerals 1O 11 designate the side frames, which are provided withfeet 12 12, that rest and are secured upon: the braces 2. J ournaledv ateither end inthe said side frames is the shaft 13, whichprojectsthrough-the side of the box 1 and having a crank-handle 14 removablysecured thereto, endwise movement of the, shaft being prevented by thecollars 15 15 outside of the frames. A ratchet 17 upon said shaft anda'pawl 16, secured totheside frame and held in engagement with saidratchet by the spring 18, prevents a backward rotation of the saidshaft, permitting a movementonly in. one direction, which isimpartedthrough the crank-handle 14.

Theballot-chute 19 is: made, preferably, of sheet metal with upturnedsides 20 20 and is fastened, atthe inner endsto the side framesbymeansof the lugs 21 and rods 22. Ablock 23- upon the box 1 supportstheouter end of the ch ute-that is, the portionwhich projects throughthe side 6. of the apparatus-cover. Hinged below the inner end of thechute 19 by. the-lugs 42 .upon the rod- 24, fastened at iholesthereimbyprinting charactersthereon,

one end, to the side frame 11- and at the other end tolthebracket 41-,secured to the opposite frame 10, is the swinging tray 25, which isprovided with openings 26 at the front end throughthebottom thereof forapurpose hereinafter to be described. 8 i

To preventinserting another ballotin the chute after one has beendropped therein and is passing'through the canceling and operating rollsand before the same has dropped into thereceptacle below the apparatus,I provide ahinged guard. to completely'cover the top, sides, andend ofall that. portion of, the chute which projectsoutside of the box and. inview of. the voter.- or box-tender, which guard is automaticallyoperated by the crank-handle 14, any movement of which drops the guarddown. over the chute and. there holds it until the crank-handlereturnsto its original position, efiect11ally. closing the chute and,preventing the insertion of another ballot until the guard is again.raised and the chute is uncovered. This mechanismconsists of a guard27., constructed, preferably, with sheet-metal sides 2828-andadownwardly-projecting forward end 29, the top being a fine-meshnetting, av rock-shaft 30, journaled at either end in the side framesand to which the guard is secured by the arms 31 31, rock-arm 32, fixedto said shaft 30 and connected by a link 33 with the cam-actuated lever34, and a spring 35, which is secured to the side frame and an. arm 36and exerts apressure upon the rock-shaft 30, which tends to hold theguard 27 in its upright position, as shown in Figs. 2and 4. Anangle-plate 116 is fastened to the top side of the rear end of the chuteto prevent the insertion of a ballot between i the rear endof the guardand the front of the apparatusrco-ver. Upon the shaft 13 a cam 37 isfixed,havingalaterally-projecting flange .40, which is concentric withthe said shaft for substantially the whole of its, contour and having adepression 38 therein. A cam-roll 39 upon the lever 34 lies upon theoutside of f the cam-flange 40, and when the roll 39' isv in thedepression 38the guard is, in its upright position, (seeFig. 1; but whenby the rotaltiOH of the cam the roll is carried out of the id'epressionand onto the concentric portion of "thecam-flange the lever 34 is raisedand the 'link 33 imparts an oscillating motion to, the frock-shaft 30and throws down the guard 27 'over the chute, where it is held untilithe roll 39 again drops into thedepression 38 andithe spring 35 returnsthe rock-shaft to its former position, which raises the guardtoi'tsupright position, uncovering the chute. When the japparatus is at rest,thero1l'39 is al'ways'i'n ithe depression 38 and the guard"- is in itsupiright position; but by the slightest rotary .movement imparted to thecrank-handle the cam 37 is rotated sufficiently to carry the roll I foutof the depression, which throws down the Zguard and cov rs the chutealmost simulta- {neouslywith theturningof" the crank-handle. The ballotmay be canceled by perforating {or by manipulati ugit in any otherwell-known jmanner; but I prefer to print thereon a se- IIO iries ofcharacters which may be used to desiignate the tow n,,ward,precinct-,&c. where the lballot-box is located, so that if ballots from ingscomprises one or more. printing-rolls 43,

Thezprinti'ng device illustrated in the draw-- in this case two,,1ooselyjournaled' upon a lugs 50 upon the shaft 46 and'a coil-spring 52, whichholds the inking-rolls constantly against the said printing-rolls. Anycharacters can. be placed upon-the periphery of the printing-rolls,which may be-mad'e of metal, rubber, cloth, or other like material thatis used for printing.

i rock-shaft 55, journaled at either end in the side frames, whichrock-shaft is actuated by a rock-arm 56, fixed thereto and adjustablyconnected with the lever 34 by a screw 57.

Upon the shaft 53 are a plurality of disks 58, separated by suitablecollars, and near each end is a friction-roll 59, preferably of rubber,held between two of the said disks. Also fixed to said shaft are the twotray-disks 60, upon which the rear end of the tray 25 is supported. (SeeFig. 4.)

The location of the printing-rolls 43 and the disks 61 uponthe'printing-roll shaft 44 is such that they are directly above the openspaces between the disks 58, so that when the shaft 53 is elevated andthere is no ballot in the tray 25 the peripheries of the printingrolls43 and disks 61 will overlap the peripheries of the friction-rolls 59and disks 58, the openings 26 in the tray permitting the said rolls anddisks to pass each other.

Fixed to the shaft 13, directly over the friction-rolls 59, are twofeed-rolls 62, having teeth out around the peripheries thereof. As theballot slides down from the chute 19 onto the swinging tray 25 the endof the ballot passes between the feed-rolls 62 and the friction-rolls 5959 and the teeth in the feed-rolls grip the ballot and draw it throughover the friction-rolls,impartinga rotary motion thereto and to theshaft 53, upon which they are secured.

Shaft 53 is elevated and depressed by the cam 37, the construction andoperation of which is above described, through the lever 34, rock-arm56, and rock-shaft 55--that is, the shaft 53 is in itslowest positionwhen the parts are at rest and the cam-roll 39 is in the depression 38in the cam-flange 40. When the cam-roll 39 is out of the depression andupon the concentric portion of the cam-flange, the shaft 53 is elevated,andso remains until a complete revolution of the cam 37 and thecrank-handle has been made. I

By rotating the screw 57 the position of the rock-arm 56, and through itthe shaft 53, in relation to the lever 34 can be changed, and thisadjustment varies the frictional contact between the friction-rolls 59and feed-rolls 62 to accommodate paper or cardboard of differentthicknesses. A shield 63 is fixed to a rock-shaft 64, supported ateither end in the side frames, and projects upwardly, curving over theend of the tray 25 (see Fig. 4) and forming an end cover for said tray.While the shield is in its substantially vertical position a ballotcannot be dropped from the tray into the receptacle below, as the endthereof is effectually closed. The shield 63 is thrown down to theposition shown by dotted linesin Fig. 4, removing the obstruction at theend of the tray after the shaft 53 has been partly elevated by theslotted link 64, joined to one of the arms 54 by the screw 65, whichpasses through the slot therein, and the rock-arm 66, fixed upon therock-shaft 64. Surrounding the rock-shaft 64 is a coil-spring 67, whichis fastened at one end to the side frame 10 and at the other end to therock-arm 66, the ten.- sion of said spring always tending to keep theshield in its upright position. It is apparent that when the arms 54 areelevated the screw 65 is brought into contact with the end of the slotin the slotted link 64 and the rock-shaft 64 is oscillated, and theshield 63, which is fixed thereto, carried to its horizontal positionand there held until the arms 54 again drop, allowing the spring 67 toreturn the rock-shaft and bringing the shield to its original uprightposition.

The registering mechanism comprises a train of indicating-wheels 68 68,loosely mounted upon a shaft 69, supported at either end in the sideframes, the said wheels being separated by suitable collars upon theshaft, gears 70, fixed to said wheels, a pinion 71', fixed upon a shaft72, parallel with the shaft 69 and ineshinginto the gear 70,and pinions73, meshing into gears 68 fixed to one end of a sleeve 74, looselymounted upon the said shaft 72 and having the two star-wheels 75 75fixed to the other end. The star-wheels 75 75 have each three arms, andone of the wheels lies in the path of the pins 76, projecting from oneside of the indicating-wheels 68 68, and the other in the path of thenotch 77, also in the side of the indicating-wheels adjacent to the pins76. As a partial rotary movement is imparted to the shaft 72 the pinion71 causes the indicating-wheel 68 to advance onetenth of a revolution,there being ten characters displayed upon its periphery. When the wheel'68 is completing the last tenth of its revolution, the arms upon thestar-wheels 75, connected with the sleeve 74 in front of the nextindicating-wheel, are brought into contact with the pin 76 and notch 77in the next indicating-wheel, and the sleeve 74 and pinion 73 fixedthereto are given a partial rotation. This movement is conveyed to theindicating-wheel through the gear 68, which meshes into the pinion 73.This operation is continued throughout the whole train ofindicating-Wheels, the figures displayed being always visible throughthe glass plate 7. The shaft 72 is given a partial rotation foroperating the indicating-train from the movement of the rock-shaft 46,which is only oscillated when a ballot is beneath the printing-rolls,through the non-rotatable longitudinally-movable sleeve 78, having acollar 79 thereon, and two star-wheels S0, fixed to the outer end, whichengage at the proper time with a pin 81, projecting from one side of thecam 37 and a hole 82 through the shell thereof. (See Fig. 11.) Secureupon the pint-1e 87 to the vertical arms 83, fixed to rock-shaft 46, isthe slotted plate 84, lying horizontally upon the top of the sleeve 78,with the collar 79 within the slot, as shown in Fig. 2. A bar 85, whichis fixed to the plate 34 by the screw IIO 86, extends under the saidplate and sleeve 78 and prevents an upward displacement thereof. Whenthe plate 84 and sleeve 78 are in the relative positions shown in Fig.2, the registering-train will not operate or count. By rocking the shaft46 the plate 84 is thrown outward by the vertical arms 83, and thecollar 79, which rides against the inclined side of the slot intheplatej84, moves the sleeve 78 longitudinally until the arms of theoutermost star-wheel are brought up against the shoulder 187 upon thecam 37. The arms of the star-wheels 80 now lie in the path of the pin 81and hole 82 in the cam and whenv brought into contact therewith impart apar tial rotation to the shaft 72 and through it to the indicating-trainbefore, described. The sleeve 78 is pushed back again toits originalposition and out of the path of the pin 81 and hole 82 by the cam-face88 upon the cam 37, against which it rides as the cam is retated. It isimpossible to register more than one count for each revolution of thecrank-- handle by this mechanism, as th'e countingsleeve 78 can only begiven one partial rotation during a single rotation of the cam. Thealarm mechanism is also actuated from the shaft 72, and hence onlysounds when a ballot has been inserted and the indicating mechanismoperated. It consists of a trip-wheel 89, secured to the shaft 72 andhaving pins 90 projecting laterally therefrom, a lever 91,

' pivoted to the side frame and having a I forced down against theaction of the coil-.

triparm 92 lying in the path of the pin 90, and a hammer-arm 93. As thetrip wheel 89 is given a partial rotation through the shaft 72 one ofthe pins is brought into contact with the end of the trip-arm 92, whichis spring 94 until the pin rides off from the end of the trip-armreleasing it. The spring 94 now draws it back to its original position,and the hammer uponthe end of the hammerarm 93 strikes the bell 96,which is secured to the side frame by a bracket 97. A ballot is droppedupon the chute'19, from which it slides onto the tray 25 until the endthereof is brought up against the shield 63. The ballot now rests uponthe peripheries of the disks 58 and the friction-rolls 59 and beneaththe feed-rolls 62 and printing-rolls 43. The

box-tender now turns the crank-handle 14,i

and the guard 27 is thrown down over the chute, preventing the insertionof another ballot until the guard .is again raised. The same movement ofthe lever 34 which throws down the guard also rocks the shaft 55 andelevates the shaft 53, and the ballot is now held rigidly between thefaces of the feedrolls 62 and fr'iction-rolls59. The ballot now coversthe open spaces between the disks 58, and the printing-rolls 43, whichrest upon the ballot, are given a slight upward movement, which rocksthe shaft 46, and through the arm connections 83 the slotted plate 84throws the sleeve 78 against the shoulder 79 of the cam 37. The samemovement of the arms 54 which elevates the shaft 53 also throws down theshield 63, uncovering the end of the tray 25 and permitting the ballotto drop 0% therefrom into the receptacle below. It will be noted thatthis shield is never down until after the chute-guard is down and hasclosed the chute. While the crank-handle is being rotated, thefeed-wheels 62draw in the ballot and the printing-rolls 43 print thecancellation-marks upon the back thereof. As be fore described, therotation of the cam 37 actuates the indicatingtrain and the alarmmechanism when thesleeve 78 is thrown into engagement therewith, whichonly occurs when a ballot is beneath the printing-rolls and the shaft 46caused to rock.

To insure the stopping of the'crank-handle after each completerevolution, I have attached-a stop-lug 189 to the side of. thebox in thepath thereof, which lu gis provided with a cam-shoulder 190 and astop-shoulder 191. The handle 192 is provided with a finger 193 and ispivot-ally secured to the crank-handle of the pintle 194. When thecrank-handle is at rest, the finger 193 is against the stop- Shoulder191, and before it can be rotated the ride upon the face of thecam-shoulder 190 and throwthe finger into line with the stopshoulder.

The mechanism used to reset all ofthe indicating-wheels to zeroconsists-0f the following parts, which will be described only for oneindicating-wheel, as the same parts are duplicated for each wheel. (SeeFigs. 4, 5, 6, and 7.) Fixed to one side of a gear 70 is a notched disk95,.having ten notches 96, or one for each character, upon the peripheryof the wheel, which lies in the circular recess 97 in the side of theindicating-wheels 68. A constant frictional engagement between the gear70 and the indicating-wheel 68 is maintained by means of the circularsheet-metal spring 98, which is sprung into a slit in the hub 99. Thisspring prevents theindicatingwheel from being carried too far bymomentum; Upon the inside 'of the wheel 68, on the screw-stud 101, issecured a bell-crank 100, carrying at one end a pin 102, which extendsthrough a hole 103 in the web of the indicating-wheel and lies normallyin one of the notches 96. Also secured to the indicat ing-wheel by thescrew-stud 104 is the click 105, having operative engagement with thestud 106 in the bell-crank through the slotted arm 107. A pin 108 isfixed in the shaft 69 and normally lies out of the path of the stud 109,projecting from the click but when the shaft is given a slight endwisemovement the pin '108 is brought directly into the path of the saidstud. For convenience in grasping the end of the shaft 69 I haveattached thereto a knob, which has a pin 110 fixed thereto, whichprevents the rotation of the shaft when the said pin is in the hole 111in the side frame. To reset the indicatingwheels, the shaft 69 is pulledout to the position shown in Fig. 10, which brings the pin 108 into thepath of the stud 109. The shaft is now rotated by means .of the knob,and when the pin 108 meets the stud 109 the click 105 is swung upon thestud 104, operating the bell-crank 100 against the action of the spring112, which raises the pin 102 out of the notched wheel, and thusseparating the gear 70 and indicating-wheel. The continued rotarymovement of the shaft 69 rotates the indicating-wheel 68 until the pin76 is brought up against the stop-hook 114, which is so located as topresent all the zero characters upon the several wheels in line witheach other.

The stop-hooks 77' are suspended from a shaft 113, supported at eitherend of the side frames, and have a slight swinging movement thereon, thespring 115 holding them constantly in the position shown in Fig. 4:. Therounded bottom ends of the hooks permit the pins 76 to force the hooksout of the way and to pass them when the indicating-Wheels are moving inone direction.

There are many minor changes and alterations that can be made within myinvention aside from those herein shown and described, and I wouldtherefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exactconstruction herein shown and described, but claim all that falls fairlywithin the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. Ina ballot-box, the combination with a frictionally rotated cancelingdevice, of a ballot-chute, leading thereto, a chute-guard for coveringsaid ballot-chute, and means for actuating the same whereby theballot-chute is entirely covered during the operation of the cancelingdevice, substantially as described.

2. In a ballot-box, the combination with a said canceling mechanism,forming an extension of said ballot-chute, means for coveringthe saidballot-chute during the operation of the canceling mechanism, aregistering mechanism, means for operating the same from a rock-shaft,and means for actuating said rock-shaft, the said means being operat-iveonly when a ballot is in the canceling mechanism, substantially asdescribed.

4:. The combination with canceling and reg-,

istering mechanisms, in a ballot-box, of a ballot-chute, a swinging trayforming an extension of the said ballot-chute, means for actuating saidtray, a shield covering the inner end of said tray, and means foractuating said shield whereby the same will uncover the tray end whenthe said tray is swung upon its mountings, substantially as described.

5. The combination in a ballot-box, of a ballot-chute,a chute-guard,aswinging ballottray, a shield for covering one end thereof, means foractuating the said chute-guard whereby the said ballotchute is coveredby the said chute-guard, and means for swinging said tray and rockingsaid shield, at substantially one and the same time, substantially asdescribed.

6. Thecombination with a body member, of a crank-arm havinga pivotedhandle, and a stop-lug, secured to said body member in the path of saidhandle, whereby the said crank-arm is brought toa full stop at thetermination of each revolution, and can only be released by moving saidhandle in relation to the said crank upon its pivot mountings,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES E. GIERDING.

Witnesses:

GEORGE E. HALL, F. 0. BOYD.

